Simone Biles really earned his time off this year.

After winning three Olympic gold medals at the Paris Games and successfully completing his journey sponsored by Athleta Gold over America Tour, the most decorated gymnast in the story is ready to settle into the season and embrace new holiday traditions.

We caught up with Biles as she prepares for an intimate and sporty holiday season with husband Jonathan Owens, and asked her to talk all things festive, her recently published article capsule collection with Athletaand shares some of its holiday must-haves from the brand’s ensemble season.

ESSENCE: You’ve had an incredible, whirlwind 2024, winning medal after medal and traveling the country. How do you plan to relax now that the holidays are fast approaching and you have some free time?

Simone Biles: For me, relaxing is not an easy task! I have a few days off before (the holidays), but today my life revolves around football. So (Chicago Bears games are), when I can relax, have fun, go support my husband and learn about football. So this is what it looks like these days.

Have you and your husband established any new favorite holiday traditions?

It’s actually so funny with holiday traditions now because my husband plays during the holidays or right after. So, that’s not a thing anymore either! But I’m excited to spend the holidays just the two of us. Most days our family flies in or we’re visiting, but this is the first time Thanksgiving and Christmas will be alone. So it will be a little more intimate, but so much fun.

So it seems like Bears football is pretty much your holiday tradition these days. You mentioned that you continue to learn about the sport. As a master athlete in your own right, how were you able to learn so much about the game in real time?

​​It’s actually so much fun because it’s something to look forward to, and I know my husband loves playing on this holiday because it makes the time special for everyone in the United States and everyone who look. So, it’s really, really exciting. It’s a new tradition, and we’re getting used to it, but we love it.

Now tell us about your Athleta capsule collection! We all pretty much live in athleisure these days, whether we do anything athletic or not. Why is this particular sportswear brand so special to you?

I think what was so important was that they supported me as a person – just as Simone rather than “Simone Biles”. That legacy built everything, but they really wanted to know me as a person; what my aspirations are and what I want to do to give back to the community. So that was what was so special.

How did you decide on the particular items you chose to include in your capsule?

Above all, it’s like me! The material is incredible. It’s this beautiful, rich navy color, and it comes from the 2024 Olympic GamesI feel like it was super powerful. As soon as I saw the Powervita Shine fabric I fell in love. We wanted to make sure it was super soft while still providing good support. Again, we are always on the move and on the move!

One of my first Athleta collections was aimed at young girls because we know they live in this sports and leisure equipment. You can go from school straight to your extracurricular activities. But women also really demanded a collection. So we thought, “You know what? Let’s spread the love! That’s why we made this collection for adults – but there are two more pieces for young girls this time, so we haven’t forgotten them! We wanted to make sure it still performed well, was super soft, looked stylish and was just plain special. I think that’s what makes Athleta great: making every person feel special. Inclusion.

Now we’ve noticed that you’re modeling a few pieces yourself in this gorgeous red color that looks like amazing on you. What made you turn to this particular shade for your product photos?

Oh my God. I feel like this color makes a perfect holiday ensemble. You can’t go wrong. I mean, it’s perfect for lounging, running errands, working out at the gym and personally, it celebrates the strength and resilience that is reflected in my bold personal style. Honestly, for me, red is a powerful color. I wanted everyone to feel powerful.

So, what items are in the Simone Biles-approved gift guide? What do you think are your best photos of athletes to give as holiday gifts?

Oh my God! Okay, you absolutely can never go wrong with the Elation Ultra High Waist Leggings. I probably have 20 to 30 pairs because they are that GOOD. THE Bra without train It’s great if you do cardio in the gym because it dries very quickly. And then these are my favorites because I always travel with them and I wear them in Chicago because it’s so cold: the Athleta Fleece sweat sets. THE Forever High-Rise Fleece Joggers And Easy Fleece ½ zip hoodie are perfect for gift giving, lounging or wearing. It’s literally my favorite.

It’s awesome, and we’re definitely taking notes! To conclude, after such a memorable 2024, how do you plan to make 2025 just as memorable, if not more? What do you have planned for the new year?

My husband and I have a few vacations planned, but other than that, I’m really trying to give back and get involved in the community since they’ve supported me on my journey for so many years. So I’m just sharing whatever ideas and tips I can to give back.